Night stick



Spt. 30, 1941. M, M DA1-ER 2,257,227

NIGHT STICK Filed Jan. 2, 1940 f WV W 77W IN VENTOR /f zwak@ @7g/fwn Patented Sept. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE NIGHT s'rIoK Maurice M. Dater, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Joseph D. Brown, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 22, 1940, Serial N o. 314,979 3 claims. (c1. 24o-6.42)

This invention relates to night sticks or billies of the type commonly employed by policemen, watchmen and the like and has particular reference to that type of night stick or billy embodying a built-in flash light, the `principal object being the provision of a device of the type described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and convenient to employ.

Objects of the invention include the provision of a night stick or a billy having an electric flashlight incorporatedl in one end thereof, said flashlight including a reflector and electric lamp bulb so constructed and cooperable with one another as to predetermine the position of the lamp filament with respect to the focal center of the reflector; the provision of-a construction of the type described so constructed and arranged that when a lamp bulb is replaced for any reason or other, anew lamp bulb may be inserted with the assurance that the filament thereof will be properly positioned with respect to the focal center of the reflector and thereby assure the flashlight being in focus at all times; the provision of a device of the type described including a main body portion having a bore therein and batteries, a reflector and an electric lamp located in the bore, and means for locating the filament of the lamp with respect to the focal axis of the relector in a simple and efficient manner; and the provision of a night stick or billy having an electric flashlight including anelectric lamp bulb incorporated therewith, the lamp bulb being of a type in which the filament is so arranged and supported as to enable it to withstand relatively greatshocks without rupture.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a night stick or billy having a flashlight incorporated in the free end of the same together with a novel form'of switch mechanism for the flashlight adjacent the handle end of the night stick for convenient operation by the user; the provision of a night stick of the type described including a switch mechanism for controlling the circuit to the flashlight including a switch element adjacent the handle and rotatable about the axis of the night stick; the provision of a night stick of the type described in which the rotating switch element is provided with a p lurality of outstanding parts engageable by the finger of the user for effecting operation thereof and so constructed and arranged as to maintain its open and/or closed circuit position without requiring the continued pressure of the user thereon; and the provision of a night stick or billy having certain novel features of construction which will be more fully described in the following specification.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig` lis a side elevational view of my improved night stick or billy;

f Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken axially through the night stick or billy shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and particularly illustrating the switch construction therefor; s Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; n

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, the section being the same as that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating with greater clarity the details of the construction employed to connect one of the terminals of the switch to one end of the battery assembly; and, A

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken in the same plane as the view in Fig. 2 and illustrating the deails of construction of that portion of the night stick within the circle indicated by the numeral 6 in Fig. 2.

As previously mentioned the present invention relates to that type of night stick or billy embodying a built-in flashlight enabling the user to employ the night stick as a flashlight Without requiring the user Vto employ more than one hand fory manipulating both night stick and flashlight. One of the important features of the invention is in connection with the focusing of the electric flashlight portion of the device. Night sticks of this general type have heretofore been suggested but in all previous cases of which I am aware the construction and arrangement of the flashlight portion was such as to make it substantially impossible to consistently focus the flashlight portion upon the replacement of a bulb therefor. In other words, the type of mounting employed for the flashlight bulbs in the previous constructions and particularly the cooperation thereof With the reflector was such that seldom if ever was it pos-k sible to arrange two or more bulbs' in the flashlight so that the position of the filament of one Would kfall in exactly the same position as the the filament will always be located in apredeaj j termined relation with respect to the `focal, axis?.

of the reector, therebyvinsuring the flashlightV being in focus at all times. Additionallm the;bulb` precautions are taken in the support of theillap ment therein, with the result that the present night stick or billy may be employed forfappljyf ing exceptionally spevererblows withouthreaking thelfllament of thebulb; y 1

It also hasrelaticn to the-electric ircutffernployedvin suchnni'ght stick and? particularly to the switch mechanism einplcllyedK in e connection therewith, the latter l beingA so 'eonstructed' 'andarranged as to eliminate-the necessity of theiuser from maintaining apressure onsuchfrnechanism at all times'f during illumination of! the flashlight and to' provide A'for ready and. qui'ckoperationof theV flashlight inthe darkness and by" av simple andnatural movementlof the users' fingers; A

Referring to theA drawing-#and particularly to4 Figs. '1 Vand yzit will Ybe noted: that the night stick lcomprises a main bodyzpor-ti'on indicated generally at lil', one end of' which isprovided With'aY conventional ihandle lIl.--7 1he'main body I0 including the handle Il jis` preferably made from a suitable ,grade` of hardwood; hardv rub'- ber, plastic or other electrical insulating material of suitable character. lThe lower or f-ree end portion thereof; that is (the endthereof opposite the handle Il, is provided with anenlargedfcon- `centricA bore 2l-wllichL is adapted yto receive` one or; moref'electric b'atteri'esjZZ 'ofic'nventional construction. At its'upp'er end the` bore 2 lj opens into a-srn'aller borelzjwhich extendstherefrom axially ofthe night stick towards the handle H thereof and terminates in'transversely' aligned relation with'respect to' an jannularrgroove ror recess; I3 formed circumferentially'of` the night stick immediately belovvgthe' handle If.:

The lower` end' of'thesmain body Ill is .provided with a metal sleeveprferrule'34"thereon; such` end `of vthe `irlairifbody. IIJ being'externally threadedA asf at 4lllwfior: complementary reception'. of n the' threaded 'boreatj the' upper' entd'iof the rule 3;4 lsY providednwith ai radialshoulder' 35 against whi'ohyisY received'jing housed; relation within thefsleeve or'ferrule a'd'a'lens, window'or.

overwhich it laps.. A riie'tallic collarSSQisilxd centrally to ltheir per 'c 1'-sn'1'a1lend'o'fftlieL e`;. flectprA 3U andfwliile lit' inayj be formed Vintl''glfally' with'. theV reflector jil'fduring manufacture there'-,y of lormay ."forrned" separately,V therefrom lan-d thereafter secured thereto, the latter Vconstruction is shown by way of illustration. 'It may be noted, however, that in accordance with the present invention the plane of the upper end of the collar 33 is arranged perpendicular with respect to the axis of therreflector 39 and at a predetermined distance measured along the axis of the reflector 30 from the focal center thereof. An` electric lamp 2E is provided with a base or shank-24 an'djanI annular' radially` outwardly directed flange.` 24ar at its lower end', as viewed in Fig. 6, in other words the end thereof adjacent This flange 24a is of substantially `the same external diameter as the sleeve 33 and is positioned in contact with the upper end ,1155 employed is preferably of a type in which specialr A thereof-.g The lamp bulb itself is provided with l bulbI and fixed within fthe base 24 in a conventional ,manner and one of these supporting conductors 2Gb, extends from the baser24 completelyV -Y tjetbetipegc ofthe bulbwhich isV nollowand Drrofjectsjv M war'dly from'tl'leend of the bulbV and' the ext-'rem v y1 of the velongated conductor 25h is housed within-such hollow'tip; yThis method of suppprting the filament permits accurate 'posi-Y tioning'fof thefilamentfct in all cases with respect'toithe biasej24 and also supports theslament in such a vmannerasto. enable it. to successfully withstand' shocks of' lunusually hard nature which ,would rupturelaments of the'. ordinaryxtypejheretofore. employed in devices. of' this type; VIn the manufacture of the; bulb the Vflange" 24u i'slocate'diwithin extremely: close; limits axiallyof' 'the 'bulbj from'. the"vr central, point of the illament26a: J i j In` .order to maintain' the' base 24' of the bulb in" concentric: relation .with'r'espect to the axis of.Y the.' Iellector" ,30,1 a sleeve 28` is .provideolwi-th a` bore ffor reception of theV base 24 and at its outerendfthisbore'is enlarged to't aroundtlie collar.' 33'an'clv a'nge 24a. Accordingly, it serves Yto centraliz'ethe bulb with the reflector. The sleeve the base! 2`4 oiitheflamp'` andthe colla-r 33, that issum'cieritlylooS'el to fpermit axial movement betweenlfthe sleevefy and. these Vparts, Vbut -this looseness'fwilll'have. no effect Y on the proper func-- tioninrg. off parts. asjdescribed inasmuchas it will never. beV allowed more axial movement/than responding end of-thea'djacent battery 22 which infall easeeV-will bey lesstha-rr the` amount of axial prevent any appreciable ixr'i'ovenlentt' between them inservice As indicatedithefsleeve' 2'8.' prefera'bly" stops short* of the? endJof the Vbattery `22 and' 1thecentral: terminali of the electricf light! bulb ioni; the basel zdfi's'farranged lfor 'contact with thegcentral lpost or contact ofthe adjacent'bat-4 133115112; Y i", 'I i" Y Y witntne above"describedl'c-oastruetion and' by vemploying'bulbs -off the-'type described',V vvhenl ever oneV bulb burns 'out'- it may'lb replaced by Val new 'bulb 'with thejassurance that the filament Qfhe ffewzbulbi Willalwayebe' Se boeit/1611er with respect tol -thefrfrecal axis of the" reflector 3B' that thefiasnlignt il (ceensistentlybeinr proper feeds.

Removal'of. theferruled' permits: access tothe lamp MaudA batteiiesj'ZZffordthepurpose of re---jV l nlfaingtheipsaiirer@ 5 A jspralrsprine 20, maintained. uuderzcinmpres; sion' between the' base of the'uppermos't'battery 22 and the blind end of the bore 2| serves to maintain the various batteries 22 in Contact with each other and the lowermost battery 22 in contact with the terminal of the lamp bulb 26. The spring 28 also serves as the remaining terminal for the battery assembly inasmuch as it contacts with the base of the uppermost battery. An electric conductor I4 positioned principally in the bore I2 is electrically connected with the spring 28. The conductor I4 is preferably of strip-like form and at its lower end passes downwardly through an opening positioned centrally of a disc-like member I5 positioned between the upper end of the spring 20 and the corresponding end of the bore 2I and is then bent laterally along the bottom of the member I5 and then wrapped around one of the turns of the spring 28 as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The member I5 is provided with radially extending strip-like extensions I5a which are bent downwardly and then radially inwardly to embrace the upper turn ofthe spring 28 at diametrically opposite sides thereof, the righthand extension I 5a as viewed in Fig. 5 being bent into embracing relationship with respect to the corresponding end of the conductor I4 so as to effect a secure contact between the same and the spring 28.

A second electrical connector I6 is also positioned in the bore I2 and extends downwardly through the lower end of the same and then out over the upper face of the member I5 and then down an inside wall of the bore 20 between the same and the batteries 22 and to the lower endv of the main body I8 where its lower end is bent outwardly over such lower end and secured in place by means of a tack 32. When the ferr'ule 34 is screwed up into position on the end of the main body I8 it serves to clamp the outwardly extending ange 3| of the reflector 38 against the tack 32 thereby to complete the electric circuit between the reflector 30 and the conductor I8. The conductor I6 is provided with an in sulating covering I8 throughout its entire length It will be appreciated from the above that the conductor I4 is connected to one terminal of the battery assembly through the spring 20, and the other conductor vIIB is connected to the other battery terminal through the reilector 30, collar 33,

Asocket 24, and lamp 26. Thus a switch mechanism adapted to electrically connect or disconnect the conductors I4 and I6 will serve to cause the bulb 25 to be energized or de-energized. This switch mechanism is located in the annular groove I3 adjacent the handle II and is constructed as follows.

As best brought out in Fig. 3 the body IU is provided with an opening 3'I therein connecting the bore I2 with the groove I3. The upper end of the conductor I4 is led out through the opening 31 and its outer end is bent over the bottom wall of the groove I3 as at 42 at one side of the opening 3l and is fixed in position by means of a tack 44. The upper end of the conductor I6 is likewise led out through the opening 31 and its outer extremity is bent over the bottom wall of the groove I3 on the side of the opening 31 opposite the side at which the end 42 of the conductor I4 is located, and such end is stripped of its insulation I8 and secured in position by means of a tack 44 in much the same manner as the end of the conductor I4. The ends 40 and 42 of the conductors I3 and I4 may be partially in-set into the bottom wall of the recess I3 or may be permitted to project upwardly above such bottom wall in their entirety.

'Received in the groove I3 and rotatable therein is a ring contact element made up of two identical generally semi-circular, parts 38 each having radially outwardly oil-set free ends lying Vin opposed relationship with respect to the corresponding end on the other half and which ends are secured together by means of screws'46 or equivalent means. ,The character of the metallic strips from which the halves 38 are constructed and the shape of the radially projecting end portions thereof is such that when the screws 46 are threaded home the two halves 38 of the switch ring are caused to frictionally embrace the bottom surface of the grooves I3 and particularly the end 42 of the conductor I4. Such ends are further shaped to provide between them adjacent the bottom wall of the groove'l3 an open space in which the end 40 of the conductor I6 normally lies out of engagement with either half 33 when the switch is in inoperative position. A tack 43 driven into the body I0 at theV bottom of the groove I3of the side thereof opposite the opening 3'I, serves as a stop for limiting rotation of the switch ring 38 in both directions of rotation and in one of which the Vend 48 of the conductor I6 lies out of contact with the switch ring. This is illustrated in Fig. 3 from which it will be understood that if the switch ring 38 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction of rotation within the limits of movement permitted by the tack 48 from the position shown, the right hand half of the switch member will be caused to ride upon the end 48 of the conductor I6 and thereby make contact therewith. At such time, because of the fact that the switch ring 38 is in constant contact with the end 42 of the conductor I4, the'contact between the conductors I4 and I6 will be completed and the bulb 26 will be caused to be energized and, therefore, lighted.

The diametrically opposite projecting end portions of the switch ring half 38 serve as finger pieces for actuating the switch. Inasmuch as the switch ring resiliently embraces the bottom of the groove I3 it will readily retain its position in either closed or open switch position after it once assumes such position and without requiring further effort on the part of the user. The finger pieces afforded by the radially projecting parts of the switch ring 38 being disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the night stick, and projecting beyond the periphery of the associated portion of the night stick, offer a ready and available means for operation by the user in the dark and without requiring any special mental effort on the part of the user in attempting to locate the same and effect its operation.

The night stickv may, of course, be provided with the usual wrist strap 58 secured in place in a conventional manner.

From the above description it will be appreciated that the night stick provided in accordance with the present invention provides a simple and ecient construction and that the switch mechanism provided for controlling the circuit to the flashlight portion thereof is simple and eiiicient and of a type particularly advantageous `in a device of the type described. It will furthermore be appreciated that although the out-er end of the night stick is hollowed out, the weight removed is more than replaced by the inclusion of the batteries 22 therein, the efciency of the night stick in this respect thus being improved.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention described without departing from the spirit and substance of the combination of an electric circuit'for saidI batteries andY lamp inciuding a pair oifelectricfconductors' extending through sai'd mainbody portion to a Ypoint adjacent therhandlethereof, said main body portion having an annular groove formed circumferentially thereof adjacent said handlev andy saidY conductors having endA portions exposed' inspacedyreiation with respect to each other'at thebottonr of said groove; and a' conductiveswitch member received by and conned in said.l groove; said.N switch member being movable in said groove about' the axisA of'v said` main body portionf'rom a; position in which it lies in contactl with'both'said' end portions toa position' in which it isfree of at least' one ofv said en'd portions; said switch element beingv offring-like' formya'nd a projection onrsaid" switch element extending. in a generally outward direction therefrom' to a point. radially beyond the. ad'jacentsuriace of said main body portion whereby to. provide. a finger piece for actuating said switch element.

2.In a night. stick construction: including a main body por-tion having a.. bore therein and batteries and'. a lamp positioned in said. bore for thepurposeroi projecting light therefrom, the combination of an electric circuit for saidbatteries and' lamp including a pair of electric conductors extending through said' main body portion `toa point adjacent the handle thereof, said main body portion. having an annular groove formed circumferentially thereof adjacent said n handle and' said' conductors having end portions exposed' in spaced relation'. with respect to eachv other at the bottom of' said groove, and a switch memberr received by' and confined' in said'V groove', said' switch member being movable in. said groove about the' axis 'of' said` main body portion from a position in which' it' lies in contact with both sai'd end portions to a position in which it is` free of at least one. of said end, portions, said switch aangaat?.

element .comprisingja pair ofgenerallyisemicircular metallic4 members vhaving generally radially outwardly offset end-portions adaptedi tov cooperate: inl pairs with: each other, at leastl two of said end portions cooperating to form betweenthem a pocket: adjacentethefbottom of,V said recess;y and means securing said fend portions together, said pocketbeing of sutcient dimensions toA freely receive at least `one of saidv conductor ende portions therein out Iofcontact therewith when' saidv switch element: is in one of its rotatable positionsf Y 4 3. In aA night stickV construction including a mainbody portionA having a bore therein and batteries and-y a lamp positioned` in,A said bore for thepurpose of projecting light. therefrom, the

combination of an'electric circuit. for said bat- Y teries. and' lamp-including va pairot electri-cconductors extending through said main body portion toa point adjacent the.- handle thereof, said main` body portion, having an annular groove formed oircumferentially thereof adjacent `said handle andi said conductors having end portions exposed in spacedrel'ati'onf with respect to. each other atl the bottom of said groove, and a switch member received'by 'and connedlin said groove, said switch member being movable in said, groove about the axisof said main body portion from a position in whichitlies in contact with both saidv end portions to'aposition in whichv itis free of atleast one of said end' portions, said switch element comprisingV a' pair ofv generally semie circular metallic membershaving radially outwardly ofiset end portions adapted to cooperate inN pairswith each other, the. cooperating of' said end portions forming between them a pocket adjacent the bottom ofsai'd recess, means secur- -ing said end portions together, one of said pocketsy being 0f sufiicient dimensions to freely receive at least one of said conductor end portions therein out of contact therewith when said switch element is in oner of its rotatable posie tions, and means fixed with respect'to' said main body portion and projecting intoythe Vother of said pockets for limiting rotational movementof said'sw-itch eiementin said groove.

MAURICE DATER, 

